More health revelations from Paula Deen?
AP photo
Paula Deen’s health is back in the news. The blogosphere, anyway.
The Daily, which seems to have a source with access to Deen’s medical records, as it was the first outlet to report Deen’s diabetic diagnosis, suggests a second health revelation is in the ether.
Deen was taping a segment with Dr. Mehmet Oz the other day when he asked, “You have another secret, don’t you? You have high blood pressure.”
This sent Team Deen into “a tizzy,” The Daily reports, with a publicist leaping in to stop the interview with the admonition: “You can’t air that.”
Actually this isn’t exactly breaking news. The Daily links to a story that our former AJC colleague Jim Auchmutey wrote in 2007, in which Deen told him she took blood pressure medication. She also shared details of a recent day’s worth of dining.
“Yesterday was so bad,” Deen said in that 2007 interview. “I started off the day with a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit from Hardee’s. For lunch, I had a fabulous chocolate-stuffed, chocolate-covered eclair that I made for the show. And for dinner, I had fried fish and fried shrimp from Captain D’s. Now is that horrible or what?”
On the other hand, she didn’t want anyone to know about her affinity for cigarettes, asking during the 2007 interview, “Y’all don’t have to tell people that I smoke, do you?”
Since Deen’s revelation that she was diagnosed three years ago with type II diabetes, she has begun working as a celebrity pitchwoman for a diabetes drug. Her web site now touts lighter versions of her high-calorie classics and her Twitter account espouses a healthier lifestyle.
“Just in time for the Super Bowl, Bobby and Jamie have some lighter meatballs to bring to the field,” she posted the other day, referring to her sons’ new cookbook which includes lighter recipes.
Deen’s chief critic, fellow on-air food personality (and fellow smoker) Anthony Bourdain, hasn’t been amused by her pivot to diabetic coach.
“Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business,” he tweeted the other day, “so I can profitably sell crutches later.”
- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com
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164 comments Add your comment
JB
January 24th, 2012
3:11 pm
Who is Bourdain and what kind of biscuits does he make?
Golfer
January 24th, 2012
3:12 pm
No wonder. She makes up for being a terrible cook(she’s not a chef) by using high fat, or sweet ingredients. Went to her restaurant once. What a joke. Food Channel should dump her. She sold out, at the expense, and welfare of her audience. Wonder if we’ll see her sponsoring BP medication next
justin
January 24th, 2012
3:14 pm
@ Slaphead
January 24th, 2012
3:01 pm
Don’t care. Her food is good. If I want healthy fare, I’ll watch Hungry Girl or whatever. If I want good ol’ southern comfort food that tastes danged good, I’ll watch Paula Deen.
I agree with you 100% Paula never said to cook like she does. I often use her recipes. There will always be people looking for a scapegoat. Paula is not your nutrition Saviour! Be responsible for your own diet!
jldsa
January 24th, 2012
3:17 pm
paula deen – please wash your hands and quit rubbing your face and mouth when you are cooking. you are a pig.
Dawg
January 24th, 2012
3:19 pm
Leave Paula be. She’s the first one to tell you she is a cook, not a chef. And, that no one should eat her syle of cooking each day!!!
JB
January 24th, 2012
3:19 pm
No, we can’t eat like that ON A REGULAR BASIS, but eating some good Southern comfort food makes life worth living. Enjoy your bean sprouts.
CKM
January 24th, 2012
3:20 pm
@ Southern Belle, “We didn’t help her make her millions.” You’re stupid.
Mid Town Joe
January 24th, 2012
3:21 pm
Cheese Cake, anyone?
Ronnie
January 24th, 2012
3:22 pm
My grandparents born in the mtns of Tn at the turn of the century cooked with grease and none of them had high blood pressure or diabetes and all lived to late 80’s into 90’s. My great grandparents too. Why? Bc they didnt eat whole cakes or sticks of butter. They ate vegetables, fruits and not everything was soaked in sugar, butter or gravy. Paula hasnt been entertaining in yrs but a cartoon of a southerner making us all look bad. As my grannies (all of them) always said – you will get the sugar di-A-beetees if you eat too many sweets! And then they would give us a piece of fruit or some water and not a soda. Sure, if Paula Deen wants to eat and cook this way and even if she wants to make money off of the diseases she is setting herself up for – her business but pls people, dont defend her on the basis that this is somekind of southern heritage. It is not!!!
Virginia
January 24th, 2012
3:23 pm
Paula is Paula!!!! If you choose to eat her recipes then do so. Do not judge her!!! Paula is Paula!!!
Steve
January 24th, 2012
3:24 pm
Immage: Paula is still very happy person! Look at her! Big smile, great dental work! Reality: Unhappy obese (not overweight) Southern Belle, with a disguisting accent, covering everything with a fake, forced smile.
JB
January 24th, 2012
3:24 pm
Don’t knock a Hardee’s egg,sausage,cheese biscuit till you have eaten one. Damn good.
Victoria
January 24th, 2012
3:25 pm
Paula’s health issues should be a private matter unless she chooses to disclose them. There is nothing wrong with cooking and eating a recipe from Paula’s cookbooks – as long as you do it once in a while. And like everything else, keep the portions down and eat in moderation. If you are going to have a meal from Paula’s cookbooks or from her restaurant in Savannah for dinner, for heaven’s sake, eat a light breakfast and meager lunch. One of her meals once in a while isn’t going to kill you. The media makes me crazy. They find a story and then they all jump on the bandwagon. I guess it’s the cool thing to do this month – bash Paula Deen. Hang in there girl, you have done nothing wrong. What people put in their mouth is their own doing – not yours. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you holding someone down and forcing a spoon of your macaroni and cheese in their mouth!
Rafe Hollister
January 24th, 2012
3:25 pm
Have another drink, Bourdain
militant marker
January 24th, 2012
3:26 pm
Lol @ Jennifer, you call Paula Deen fake but can’t realize Anthony Bourdain is drinking from the same bucket! You cats crack me up!
JB
January 24th, 2012
3:27 pm
Steve…..just a guess, but I would bet your accent is disgusting. Like my ole friend Lewis Grizzard use to say….” Delta is ready when you are”……..
Prosper Hogue
January 24th, 2012
3:28 pm
Don’t hate because Paula Deen has become filthy rich from being a great cook. Get your lazy self off that couch and off that internet and go get a job and stop hating on her.
JB
January 24th, 2012
3:29 pm
Correct…lot’s of “occupiers” on here.
Phony Police
January 24th, 2012
3:32 pm
Paula Deen & Tammy Faye Baker
Separated at birth?
linda
January 24th, 2012
3:36 pm
I agree with Anthony Bourdain totally.
Jose
January 24th, 2012
3:42 pm
Anthony Bourdain who by his own admission spent years addicted to heroin.
Viewer38
January 24th, 2012
3:48 pm
Paula Deen is a southern woman, not a southern lady, who happened to make good on her cooking and personality.
markie mark
January 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
wow blog monster….what did I say that made you eat my post?
Dr. Phil
January 24th, 2012
3:53 pm
She is a ticking time bomb…but if you choose the behavior, you choose the consequences…
JB
January 24th, 2012
3:54 pm
Trying to come up with something to do tonight other than watch Obama. Could listen to some Castro rants I guess.
JB
January 24th, 2012
3:57 pm
Dr Phil. Have to disagree, respectfully. My Father in law is healthy and 86. Has eaten Southern everyday of his life…and still does. eggs, meat, grits, toast or biscuits every morning……….It’s genes and the Good Lord. I’ve seen bean sprout eaters and joggers die at 62.
cowpie
January 24th, 2012
3:57 pm
This ugly, fat, stupid cow should just die already. In fact, I’m surprised she’s still living.
Avg American
January 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
The decline of the avg American…fat, stupid and ugly.
JenniferM
January 24th, 2012
3:58 pm
Step outside the box and look at the facts. What this boils down to is a conflict of interest. It raises an ethical question because she is famous for promoting food types that are known to cause health problems when indulged in excess. With that said, she is also promoting a drug used to treat a disease that is directly correlated with that type of diet. On a personal level, it is no one’s business. On a business level, you have a right to know if there are unethical business practices. Just because she is loveable shouldn’t make her exempt from acting appropriately. If it were a big oil company doing the same thing, hell fire and damnation would rain down.
c-bear
January 24th, 2012
3:59 pm
Like everyone’s family recipes that everybody cherishes on family occasions – rich and tasty – are for a once in a while treat. No one should eat these recipes every meal.every day. But it sure is nice to spoil yourself every now and then. Pauls is a charm and an inspiration to many. She has gotten many people back into the kitchen to make the old-time favorites, many of hers and her families. Nothing fancy about her cooking – simple hand held mixer, no KA monster, simple utensils, hands are the best! She is very normal and down to earth – I met her once out and about with her family vacationing, what a joy – her personality is addictive. Hop on the wagon and enjoy the ride. Life is too short to hate. Good luck Paula… Michael Groover’s look-a-like!
JB
January 24th, 2012
4:01 pm
cowpie……………..a wonderful human being.
American Epidemic
January 24th, 2012
4:05 pm
The decline of the avg American…getting fatter, dumber, and uglier. Just go shopping at Walmart…
weena
January 24th, 2012
4:05 pm
Which one of the sons is the arse pirate? It’s the smaller one who crochets her hair to hide the bald spot.
Jason
January 24th, 2012
4:06 pm
When I saw the link, my initial thought was, “Great, the drug she’s pushing probably causes side effects – for which she’s willing to sell you a second drug!”
JB
January 24th, 2012
4:07 pm
American Epidemic…………Or just like the Dems want them. Not working or paying taxes….just waddling and voting.
Crazy Mofo
January 24th, 2012
4:10 pm
Why are we acting all surprised? As if OMG how could she be sick? This over-indulged non-exercising cow epitomizes the decay of our society. We are in decline folks. We are getting dumber by the day and fatter by the hour!
JB
January 24th, 2012
4:11 pm
Crazy Mofo……………yes, an Obama dream…………Just vote between bites
American Epidemic
January 24th, 2012
4:12 pm
@JB…very possibly. It’s really alarming and we are all paying for it.
weena
January 24th, 2012
4:16 pm
JB who posted at 4:07. I’m laid up in my HUD house gnawing on some cheese your tax dollars paid for and getting ready for Paula to come on. My kid’s sucking on her WIC milk. I’m about to spark a rock and get off. This internet/cable/iphone bundle is expensive, I need a new entitlement, gurl.
Stop donating those Levis to Goodwill, I only wear Baby Phat, nice fit around the arse ya know.
Crazy Mofo
January 24th, 2012
4:16 pm
Would you like a diet coke with you Big Mac and super sized fries?
JB
January 24th, 2012
4:17 pm
speaking of in trouble….did any of you see the piece about burn centers? 6 have closed in the past year due to all the meth lab burns…..and these bums have no insurance, and the hospitals can not afford to sustain them and keep them staffed because of lack of collections for services to do the meth problem. That’s where Obama care is heading. Very limited services, especially for the over 70 crowd. They get comfort care, not health care. do a little research.
Neil B.
January 24th, 2012
4:19 pm
Paula has the right to make the choices she’s made. However, she did not gain me as a fan with this most recent choice. I believe she could have made a lot more money and gained even more fans in the long run if she choose to promote diabetes prevention rather than maintenance by becoming a drug spokesperson. It’s a lost opportunity for those truly concerned about people’s health.
Also, the fact that she ate Hardee’s and Captian D’s food on the same day further ruins her credibility as a culinary expert. Southern cooking is so much more than fat, salt and sugar. Another reason why I was never a fan.
Jennifer Brett
January 24th, 2012
4:20 pm
I believe this is the piece you’re referring to, about burn centers having to close due to the cost of treating uninsured patients who burn themselves when their meth labs explode. A troubling trend:
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/ap-impact-meth-fills-1312924.html
Jennifer
Erik
January 24th, 2012
4:25 pm
Paula Deen is not FORCING anyone to eat her food. She is just cooking like our mom, grandmom,etc would do. She is not holding a gun to your head and saying you must eat my food.
Sharon
January 24th, 2012
4:27 pm
All of this Paula Deen criticism is outrageous! I love cooking her recipies! I weigh 102 pounds, exercise regularly and enjoy eating in MODERATION as Paula suggests (or anyone with common sense knows). If you look at any of the chefs on TV or in restaurants, many use rich ingredients – even tiny Giada! The media needs to leave Paula alone. A person’s health is a private matter!
Avg American
January 24th, 2012
4:31 pm
@weena….love it!
Mmmm Cheeseburger
January 24th, 2012
4:33 pm
Most healthy food sucks! I only eat it regularly so I don’t gain weight. If Paula leads a happier, shorter life full of macaroni and cheese and fried whatever then that is her choice. The cheeseburger and fries I had for lunch from Steak and Shake were delicious!!! Mmmm
FCM
January 24th, 2012
4:36 pm
@ Hmmmm
Actually Mario Batli (granted not thin) and Michael Symon very much supported Dean on their show THE CHEW.
Food Network has Bobby Deen doing a show called “Not My Mother’s Kitchen” and it was announced that Jamie Deen would be doing a show that gears toward families and healthy choices.
Being the daughter of a diabetic (diagnosed 3 years ago), who underwent triple by-pass last year I can tell you that the whole family stands stills and rethinks what they are doing.
Paula makes her main living off showing people how to cook food of a pretty much by-gone era. She cracks me up but like sugar, I can only do small quantities.
Still, I applaude her for teaching people this kind of cooking IF they chose to do it only now and again.
I loved Chef Anne’s roasted greenbeans, but a pot of greens cooked with a ham hock, oh baby!
RK
January 24th, 2012
4:37 pm
Finally, JenniferM with a sane post.
You all are making strawman arguments — this has nothing to with Paula Deen “forcing” you to eat her food.
Hypocrisy Makes Money
January 24th, 2012
4:40 pm
katsun
January 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
Just because I watch something doesn’t mean I have to cook it or eat it. I am a adult. You don’t want anyone else to tell you how to live your life, so don’t complain about how others live theirs!
*******************************************************
Why not let people on tv cook meth or crack.
We are all adults and we don’t need anyone else telling us how to live our lives.